1. Direct and Indirect
Questions
Tamara Sepúlveda Chandía
DOE - UMCE 2014

2. Questions
•If we want to make questions, we can do it
by changing the word order (e.g. Is he your
boyfriend?, Was she there?, Have you been
to Ireland?) or using the auxiliary do (e.g.
Do you know them?, Does he live with you?,
Did you enjoy it?)

3. Activity 1
Get in pairs and give a brief definition of:
•Direct question
•Indirect question
•Why are they so useful in our daily life?

4. Direct Questions
A direct question can be answered (i.e., it is
not a statement) and always ends in a
question mark (?). For example:
•Did Rodrigo catch a large dogfish?
•Was Miriam singing in the shower?
•Has Francisco been waiting for Paloma so
long?

5. Direct Questions (cont.)
•Yes/No questions
The answer to a Yes/No question will be Yes
or No.
e.g. Do you like celery?
(Answer to this: Yes)

6. •Forming Yes/No questions:
Auxiliary verb+Subject+Main Verb+Remainder
Can Francisca swim?
Has Tannia finished screaming?
Does Miriam want to stay?
Will Texia be happy?

7. Direct Questions (cont.)
•“Question word” questions
The answer to a “question word” question will
be some information.
e.g. What is celery salt?
(Answer: Celery salt is seasoned salt made
from ground celery seeds and table salt)

8. Forming “Question word” questions
Question word+Auxiliary verb+Subject+Main
verb+Remainder
Where did Natalia go?
Why have they started the play early?
When will Edwin catch a decent bass?

9. Direct Questions (cont.)
•Choice questions
The answer to a choice question will be in the
question.
e.g. Do you want garlic salt or celery salt?
(Answer: Garlic salt)

10. Forming Choice questions
Auxiliary verb+Subject+Main verb+Choice
1+“or”+Choice2
Do you drink tea or coffee?
Did Texia catch a whelk or a bass?
Is it true or false?

11. Activity 2
•Create:
1. A Yes/No question.
2. A “Question word” question.
3. A Choice question

12. Indirect Questions
An indirect question is a question embedded
inside a statement (i.e., a declarative
sentence) or another question (i.e., an
interrogative sentence). It is more formal
and polite.
e.g., Katia asked if Texia liked cheese.

13. Indirect questions (cont.)
•Could you tell me…
•Do you know…
•I was wondering…
•Do you have any idea…
•I’d like to know…
•Would it be possible…
•Is there any chance...

14. Forming Indirect questions
•When the direct question is a yes-no
question, the indirect question will have if
or whether.
e.g. Are you cold?
I’m asking if you are cold.
I’m asking whether you are cold.

15. When the direct questions start with an
interrogative pronoun or interrogative
adjective, the indirect question will start
with it as well.
e.g., What time is it? direct question→
I’m asking what the time is.

16. Examples
•Where is market street?
Could you tell me where market street is?
•What time does the bank open?
Do you know what time the bank opens?
•Why did you move to Europe?
I was wondering why you moved to Europe.

17. Activity 3
•Is it direct or indirect?
1. ____ Would it be possible for you to finish
the project by tomorrow?
2. ____ Can we change the meeting to
Thursday?
3. ____ How much does this motorcycle cost?
4. ____ Does Paloma like Italian food?

18. 5. ____ I was wondering if Francisco speaks
English.
6. ____ Does Miriam plan on travelling this
summer?
Thank you!